Five Falcons End Up in Double Figures as Men's Basketball Rolls Virginia State 76-58

MISENHEIMER, N.C. – Pfeiffer University put five players in double-digits during a 76-58 victory over Virginia State in non-conference men’s basketball action on Monday night. Led by Josh Humphrey’s (Matthews, NC) double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, the Falcons improve to 3-1 on the year while the Trojans remain winless at 0-5.

KC Anuna (Nashville, TN) started the evening by scoring 13 of the Falcons first 15 points racing out to a 15-9 lead. Later, Humphrey gave Pfeiffer a six-point, 24-18 lead with 5:43 on the clock before Virginia State stormed back.

Back-to-back baskets by the Trojans’ Kevin Wiggins (Newport News, VA) and Kenny Mitchell (Stone Mountain, GA) erased all deficits before VSU took the lead on an Ibn Rassoull (East Orange, NJ) backend free throw with 2:12 before the break. A pair of Chris Kemp (Baltimore, MD) jumpers over the final 96 seconds put the Falcons up 30-27 at the half.

A quick start by Pfeiffer in the second half led to a nine-point lead after a Reggie Hollinger (Orlando, FL) free throw with 14:48 to play. A mini 7-2 run by the Trojans again brought them back as Wiggins delivered a layup with 11:20 showing to slice the lead down to three, 44-41.

Elijah Matthews (Clinton, MD) stopped the bleeding with a triple to start a 12-2 spurt for the Falcons. Matthews added another three-ball with 6:01 remaining to make it a 15-point contest before Danny Smith (Baltimore, MD) made it 17 just two minutes later. Pfeiffer would add 10 late free throws to help in the 18-point win.

Smith led all players with 18 on the night followed by Anuna’s 17. Matthews, along with Humphrey, posted 11 while Hollinger dropped in 10. The Falcons shot 49% from the field which included a 54% clip in the second half.

James Shambley (Norfolk, VA) led the Trojans with 11 points as VSU shot just 2-of-13 from long range. Monday marks the third-straight outing the Pfeiffer defense has held an opponent to less than 70 points.

Pfeiffer will now head south for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with a pair of contests in Florida. The Falcons will take on Barry in Miami Shores at 4:00 p.m. on Friday before battling Lynn in Boca Raton Saturday at 2:00 p.m.